“Xander James Langston!” A woman’s sharp voice cut through the crowd.
“Uh-oh.”
Rose, Xander and Joey all turned and found a red-faced Molly Eden standing a few feet away in a Litchfield Lions T-shirt and jeans. She was usually the spitting image of sweetness and Christmas spirit—a few years and a few pounds from being a walking, talking Mrs. Claus. She looked anything but sweet at the moment. She looked as if she’d caught them sneaking back in after curfew and was about to wear Xander’s rear end out.
Her hands were planted on her hips, her furious gaze shifting between Rose and Xander. Then it was interrupted by a smile curling her lips when she looked at Joey. Ken was behind her, a gentle, restraining hand on her shoulder and a smug grin on his face. Thank goodness for Ken.
“Mama...” Xander started, but he was silenced by Molly raising her hand.
“Don’t start.” She pointed to Joey. “Is that my grandson?”
Rose watched Xander swallow hard and take a deep breath. He looked as though he’d sooner take on Sheriff Duke. “Yes.”
“My ten-year-old grandson?” she clarified.
Rose felt the need to intervene on his behalf. “Yes, but he didn’t know until a few weeks ago.”
Molly nodded. She seemed to accept the excuse, but Rose got the feeling that neither of them were off the hook. “It’s a wonder you kept it a secret that long, Rosalyn. He looks just like Xander did when he came to live with us.”
“I’m sorry, Mrs. Eden.”
“Lord,” Molly said, eyeing the ring on Rose’s hand and throwing her hands up. “I think you’d better start calling me Mama. Or maybe Grandma. I thought I’d have more time to get used to the name, but here we are.”
Molly turned to focus on their son and a warm smile spread across her face. She took a few steps toward Joey and bent over to look at him eye level. It wouldn’t be long before he was taller than her. “I’ve been waiting a long time for a grandchild. Do you like cookies?”
“I’ve been waiting a long time for grandparents. And I love cookies.”
Tears rushed to Molly’s eyes and Rose felt a similar prickle. “Oh!” Molly gushed, reaching forward to pull the little boy into her arms. “I’m a grandmother!” she yelled to the crowd. A few people turned to look at them with surprise on their faces, but most were still wrapped up in the team’s celebration.
“That went better than I expected,” Xander whispered as he leaned into Rose.
Rose rested her head against his chest and sighed. Everything had gone better than she’d expected. She just had to let go of her fear. Well, maybe not all of it.
Molly’s sharp green gaze turned to Xander and her smile flattened to a frown of displeasure. “You two,” she added, “will be dealt with after I get done enjoying my grandbaby.”
Epilogue
Molly and Ken sat in chairs on the back porch watching Xander and their grandson ride around on a four-wheeler. Rose was on the stairs, watching nervously. Joey was wearing a helmet, but that hardly made her feel better. She’d just gotten her son out of the brace. She wasn’t eager to get a new one put on him. They had a busy few weeks ahead of them. They were finished packing and would leave tomorrow to move down to Washington. They had to get Joey enrolled in school and get settled in a new place. Another injury would certainly handicap the process.
Her attention was pulled away by the sound of a car coming up the gravel drive. It was Sheriff Duke’s squad car. Her heart sank in her chest. She didn’t know what this was about, but a personal visit from the sheriff was never good. The previous sheriff had been the one to come and tell her what her father had done. He’d also told Xander his parents were dead.
The sheriff climbed from his car and made his way over to the back porch. Rose leaped up from her spot and took her place to the right of Molly’s chair.
“Molly, Ken, Rosalyn,” Sheriff Duke said, acknowledging them and frowning as he came up the stairs. “I hate to do this, Ken, but I’m going to have to bring you in for questioning.”
“What?” Molly said, leaping up from her chair. “Questioning about what, Sheriff Duke?”
Rose immediately put her arms around Molly’s shoulders. “Xander!” she cried out into the yard, but he was already on his way.
He climbed up the back steps two at a time with Joey in his wake. “What’s all this about?” he asked.
The sheriff shuffled uncomfortably in his shoes. “I need to take Ken to the station for some official questioning.”
She watched as Xander’s jaw stiffened and his blank politician’s expression fell over his features. “Has there been a break in the case? Last I heard, you didn’t have any leads on what happened after Tommy ran away.”